Halton

Halton's population increased by about 7,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Halton increased by 6.4%, from just over 118,000 to 126,000.

The addition of just over 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Halton was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Halton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Halton increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 11.0% of people in Halton are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Halton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Halton working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 9.6% to 8.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. But despite the improvement, Halton remained less healthy than the national average 10.1% in England described their health as good in 2011).

Long hour working in Halton decreased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Halton, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Halton

The percentage of Halton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.7% to 5.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.7% in 2001. The percentage of Halton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 88.6% to 88.1%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Halton

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Halton was among those who said they had no religion, rising 10.0 points.

In 2011, 18.7% of respondents in Halton gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 8.7% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 10.5% to 19.8%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Halton, 75.0% said they were Christian, compared with 83.8% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.0% to 5.4%.

In Halton, 5.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.0% in 2001. In North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Halton increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Halton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Halton that rented privately increased from 4.4% to 9.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in four (25.2%) households lived in social housing, compared with 27.4% in 2001. The percentage of Halton households that owned their home decreased from 65.4% to 63.4%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Halton increased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Halton, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Halton that were married decreased from 50.3% to 45.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in three (35.4%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 30.3% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Halton that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.1% to 12.3%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 49.8% in 2001 to 45.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Halton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11.7% to 7.9% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.5% in 2001. The percentage of Halton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.8% to 13.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Halton decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Halton, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Halton at a faster rate than across England.

In Halton, the proportion of households without children increased from 53.6% in 2001 to 56.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61.1% to 61.2%.

Across the North West, the share of households without children increased from 59.3% to 60.8%.

The proportion of households with children in Halton fell from 34.0% to 31.3%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 12.3%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Halton, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.0% to 10.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.7%) households had only one person, compared with 27.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Halton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 38.9% to 33.4%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Halton increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Halton, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Halton residents that were self-employed increased from 4.6% to 5.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52.4% in 2001. The percentage of Halton residents that were unemployed increased from 4.5% to 5.6%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.1% in 2001 to 8.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Halton increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Halton, the North West and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Halton

In 2011, 97.9% of Halton residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.8% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 94.4% to 90.2%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.1% of people in Halton said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.6% in 2001. About 0.8% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.2%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Halton remained close to 97.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Halton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Halton residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 3.1% to 3.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Halton remained close to 3.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Halton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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